Steele's Justin Stockton tries to shake a leg tackle by Roosevelt's Jonathan Leos during the first quarter of their Class 5A Division II second round playoff game at Heroes Stadium on Nov. 23, 2012. Stockton scored two touchdowns to help the Knights come away with a 45-0 victory over the Rough Riders. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Steele's Justin Stockton tries to shake a leg tackle by Roosevelt's Jonathan Leos during the first quarter of their Class 5A Division II second round playoff game at Heroes Stadium on Nov. 23, 2012. Stockton

Steele's Justin Stockton (center) finds a huge hole to run through during the second quarter of their Class 5A Division II second round playoff game with Roosevelt at Heroes Stadium on Nov. 23, 2012. Steele won the game 45-0. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Steele's Justin Stockton (center) finds a huge hole to run through during the second quarter of their Class 5A Division II second round playoff game with Roosevelt at Heroes Stadium on Nov. 23, 2012. Steele

Steele tailback Justin Stockton scores one of his three touchdowns Friday in the Knights' 42-14 win over the Southwest Dragons at Lehnhoff Stadium. Steele opens the playoffs against Marshall at 7:30 p.m. today in the Alamodome.

Steele tailback Justin Stockton scores one of his three touchdowns Friday in the Knights' 42-14 win over the Southwest Dragons at Lehnhoff Stadium. Steele opens the playoffs against Marshall at 7:30 p.m. today

Knight running back Justin Stockton heads out on a long touchdown run leaving Jaquori Brooks behind as Steele hosts Judson at Lehnhoff Stadium on September 7, 2012.

Knight running back Justin Stockton heads out on a long touchdown run leaving Jaquori Brooks behind as Steele hosts Judson at Lehnhoff Stadium on September 7, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Judson's Tre Flowers catches up just in time to push the Knights Justin Stockton out of bounds at the one yard line as Steele hosts Judson at Lehnhoff Stadium on September 7, 2012.

Judson's Tre Flowers catches up just in time to push the Knights Justin Stockton out of bounds at the one yard line as Steele hosts Judson at Lehnhoff Stadium on September 7, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Knight running back Justin Stockton is pushed out of bounds at the 1 yard line by Tre Flowers after a long run as Steele hosts Judson at Lehnhoff Stadium on September 7, 2012.

Knight running back Justin Stockton is pushed out of bounds at the 1 yard line by Tre Flowers after a long run as Steele hosts Judson at Lehnhoff Stadium on September 7, 2012.

Photo: Tom Reel, Express-News

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Steele's Justin Stockton (04) strolls into the endzone after running 75 yards for a second-quarter touchdown against Madison's Latrell Sledge (24) at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Steele's Justin Stockton (04) strolls into the endzone after running 75 yards for a second-quarter touchdown against Madison's Latrell Sledge (24) at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, Express-News

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Steele's Justin Stockton (04) pushes off a tackle by Madison's Mitchell Brown (82) in the second half at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Steele's Justin Stockton (04) pushes off a tackle by Madison's Mitchell Brown (82) in the second half at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, Express-News

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Steele's Justin Stockton (04) strolls into the endzone after running 75 yards for a second-quarter touchdown against Madison's Latrell Sledge (24) at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Steele's Justin Stockton (04) strolls into the endzone after running 75 yards for a second-quarter touchdown against Madison's Latrell Sledge (24) at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Steele's Justin Stockton (04) pushes off a tackle by Madison's Mitchell Brown (82) in the second half at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Steele's Justin Stockton (04) pushes off a tackle by Madison's Mitchell Brown (82) in the second half at Heroes Stadium on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Steele's Stockton out of Malcolm Brown's shadow

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Steele running back Justin Stockton used to go by the nickname “Mini-Malcolm,” but it's been at least a year since anyone has called him that.

Stockton has outgrown the shadow of former Steele star Malcolm Brown, leading the Knights to an undefeated season entering Saturday's Class 5A Division II state quarterfinal against Brandeis.

Not that he ever saw Brown's shadow as a bad thing.

“Shoot, he's my role model,” Stockton said. “I look up to him a lot. I'm honored to follow him.”

As a freshman during Brown's senior year, Stockton had a lot to learn from him. He even copied a few mannerisms from Brown, often dropping in the word “shoot” as Brown did.

Since then, Stockton has made his own way. He's rushed for 1,747 yards and 28 TDs this season, averaging 10 yards per carry.

His only 200-yard games this season were in Steele's first two, against Madison and Judson. He might have much gaudier stats, but the Knights haven't needed him to be a workhorse. Stockton's only game with at least 20 carries this season was against Judson on Sept. 7.

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“First it was Malcolm, and now Justin's putting up the same numbers,” said safety Jordan Sterns, who split time at running back last season. “People might wonder if it's the system or the player, but it's both. The way Justin runs, he's a perfect fit for the system.”

Steele coaches have been able to mold Stockton, partially because they had a blank slate.

He moved to Texas from Florida in the eighth grade and didn't realize the commitment to football in this state. During Steele's 2010 state championship run, he missed a practice because there wasn't school that week — so he assumed there wasn't practice, either.

Called up to varsity midway through the season, Stockton's speed complemented Brown as he rushed for 607 yards.

“I was really nervous being on that team,” Stockton said. “I probably said 10 words my entire freshman year. And they were all to Malcolm.”

After rushing for 1,499 yards as a sophomore in Steele's state final run last season, Stockton added about 15 pounds of muscle over the offseason.

At 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, Stockton can't qualify as “mini” anymore, as he can bench press 280 pounds. He didn't lose any speed either, qualifying for the state track meet in the 100-meter dash.

By the end of his Steele career, Stockton may even pass Brown. Stockton's 3,853 career rushing yards are ahead of Brown's pace, but Brown missed half of his sophomore season because of an injury. Brown finished his Steele career with 6,188 rushing yards.

“One of the great joys of this profession is seeing a kid like Justin grow up in front of you,” Steele coach Mike Jinks said. “Everybody just thinks he's fast, but there's a lot more to him. If there's a better all-around back in the state, I haven't seen him.”